Can opener



o. sAssER CAN OPENER Filed May 4, 1956 071's E. $0$$f l2 INVENTOR.

Fig.2

United States Patent C CAN OPENER Otis E. Sasser, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application May 4, 1956, Serial No. 582,864

4 Claims. (Cl. 30-19) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in can openers and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character in the form of a hand tool or implement comprising novel means for expeditiously, neatly and safely removing the top of a can with a minimum of effort.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an opener of the. aforementioned character which may be readily adjusted for use on cans of substantially all sizes.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide, in an adjustable opener of the aforementioned character of the type comprising a knife disc for cutting the can top, novel guide means for holding said knife against or immediately adjacent the usual head of the can.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an adjustable can opener which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a top plan view, showing a can opener constructed in accordance with the present invention 1n use;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring. now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a tubular metallic lever 4 of substantially rectangular transverse section, which lever may be of any desired dimensions. Rotatably mounted on the outer end portion of the lever 4 is an operating handle or knob 5 of suitable material. Threadedly mounted in the inner end portion of the tubular lever 4 and extending vertically therethrough and depending therefrom is a pivot pin 6 in the form of a punch which is adapted to penetrate the usual top 7 of a can to be opened, as indicated at 8.

Mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in the lever 4 and projecting from the inner or forward end thereof is a metallic bar 9. The bar 9 has formed therein a longitudinal slot 10 which accommodates the pivot pin or punch 6. Mounted beneath the outer end portion of the arm 9 is a knife disc 11 which is adapted to penetrate and cut the top 7 immediately adjacent the usual bead 12 of the can 8. In the embodiment shown, the knife 11 is journaled in a fork 13 which is mounted in a socket 14 provided therefor in the arm 9. A setscrew 15 is threaded longitudinally into the arm 9 from the outer. end thereof for securing the fork 13 in the socket 14.

A metallic plate 16 is mounted vertically on the outer end of the arm 9,. The setscrew 15 passes through the 2,780,861 Patented Feb. 12, 1957 plate 16. The plate 16 is secured on the arm 9 by means comprising triangular side plates 17 aflixed to said plate and secured by screws 18 to said arm. Depending from the plate 16 is an ear 19 having pivotally mounted, as at 20, for swinging movement in a vertical plane thereon a bifurcated holder or fork 21. A guide wheel 23 is journaled in the holder 21 and engageable beneath the bead 12 of the can 8 for maintaining the knife 11 closely adjacent said bead. The car 19 terminates in an inwardly and upwardly curving stop lug 24 for limiting the inward and downward swinging movement of the holder 21 and the wheel 23 to substantially the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing.

It is thought that the use or operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the pointed pivot pin or punch 6 is caused to penetrate the central portion of the can top 7 for pivotally anchoring the lever 4 to the can, said lever resting and riding on the bead 12. The device is then swung downwardly for causing the knife 11 to penetrate the can top at a point immediately adjacent the bead 12, the guide Wheel 23 passing downwardly below said bead and dropping by gravity thereunder as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. As indicated by the arrows in Figure 1 of the drawing, the lever 4 is then swung horizontally in either direction for causing the knife 11 to travel around the can top 7 closely adjacent the bead 12 for cutting said top from the can in an obvious manner. The guide wheel 23, travelling around the exterior of the upper portion of the can beneath the bead 12 holds the knife 11 down in the can top against or closely adjacent to said bead.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A can opener of the character described comprising: a tubular lever, a pivot pin mounted on one end portion of the lever and adapted to penetrate the top of a can for pivotally anchoring said lever thereto, an operating knob rotatably mounted on the other end portion of the lever, an arm mounted for longitudinal sliding adjustment in the lever and projecting from said one end thereof, a knife disc mounted beneath said arm and adapted to penetrate and cut the can top, and a guide wheel mounted for swinging movement on the free end of the arm and operable beneath the bead of the can.

2. A can opener of the character described comprising:

a tubular lever, an arm mounted for longitudinal sliding adjustment in said lever and projecting from one end thereof, a pivot pin mounted in the lever and adapted to penetrate the top of the can for pivotally anchoring said lever thereto, said arm having a longitudinal slot therein, said pivot pin being engaged in the slot for anchoring the arm in the lever, an operating knob on the other end portion of said lever, a knife disc rotatably mounted beneath the arm and adapted to penetrate and cut the can top closely adjacent the can bead, and a guide on the arm for maintaining the knife disc adjacent the bead.

3. A can opener of the character described comprising: a tubular lever, an arm mounted for longitudinal sliding adjustment in said lever and projecting from one end thereof, a pivot pin mounted in the lever and adapted to penetrate the top of the can for pivotally anchoring said lever thereto, said arm having a longitudinal slot therein, said pivot pin being engaged in the slot for anchoring the arm in the lever, an operating knob on the other end portion of said lever, a knife disc rotatably mounted beneath the arm and adapted to penetrate and cut the can top closely adjacent the can head, and a guide on the arm for maintaining the knife disc adjacent the bead, said guide including a plate aifixed to the free end of the arm and depending therefrom, and awheel mounted for rotary and swinging movement on said plate and operable around the can beneath the head.

4. A can opener of the character described comprising: a tubular lever, an arm mounted for longitudinal sliding adjustment'in said lever and projecting from one end thereof, said arm having a longitudinal slot therein, a pivot pin threadedly mounted in the lever and engaged in the slot for anchoring the arm in said lever, said pivot pin including a point for penetrating the top of a can for pivotally anchoring the lever thereto, and a knife disc rotatably mounted on the arm for penetrating and cutting the can top.

No references cited. 

